And thousands of hunters–myself included–are expected to turn out for the firearms season­, the most popular option among Minnesota deer hunters.

I started hunting with my father after completing a firearms hunter safety course when I was 12-years-old. The first makeup I wore was camo face paint, and I quickly learned that blaze orange is not the new pink but it will save my life.

I also learned hunting­–at least for our family–is as much about tradition as it is about its economic and environmental contributions.

(Plus, we love venison. It is low in fat and high in protein and free of chemical-related treatments often used on grocery store meats. We know exactly where it came from and the methods used to get it into the freezer.)

Lock and load

What does happen when we hunt deer? For starters, the economic impact of hunting is huge. Merchant told WCCO News, “Deer hunters spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually.”

According to a 2016 news release from Minnesota’s DNR, hunting related-expenditures in the state totaled $725 million. Hunters spent $400 million on equipment and $90 million on other hunting supplies (magazines, membership dues, licenses, permits, land leasing, and ownership). These expenditures not only benefit the hunting industry but also provide revenue to our state’s economy.

There are also conservation benefits. The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, more commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson Act, was approved by Congress in 1937 and imposed an excise tax on the sale of firearms and ammunition to help fund wildlife conservation. Revenues generated from these taxes are apportioned to state wildlife agencies for “the selection, restoration, and improvement of wildlife habitat, and for wildlife management research.”

With this perspective, I will don my camo and blaze orange hunting gear next weekend and attempt to bag a buck. I wish all Minnesota hunters a safe hunting season, and even if you come up empty-handed, remember you are helping boost Minnesota’s economy and conserve and manage the state’s diverse wildlife.

Upcoming Events

Please join Center of the American Experiment on Wednesday, January 16th at the Hilton Hotel for a lunch forum with Center economist and author of the new report, “The State of Minnesota’s Economy: 2018,” John Phelan. Learn where Minnesota’s economy stands and where it is headed. John Phelan is a graduate of Birkbeck College, University of London, where he earned a BSc in Economics, and of the London School of Economics where he earned an MSc. John worked in finance for ten years before becoming a professional economist. At Capitol Economics in London, he wrote reports ranging from the impact of Brexit…